Russian Soyuz spacecraft docks at International Space Station

Russian Soyuz Commander Alexander Samokutyayev, NASA Flight Engineer Ron Garan and cosmonaut Andrey Borisenko joined three other crew members on the International Space Station.

It was the first time in space for Russians Samokutyayev and Borisenko. The Soyuz launch on April 6 came less than a week before the 50th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's historic flight from the same, once secret Baikonur launch facility to become the first human in orbit.

The successful launch of the Soyuz spacecraft will likely ease concerns over reliance on the single-use Russian spacecraft as NASA mothballs its shuttle fleet later this year.

Lift off had been postponed from March 30 due to a glitch in the upgraded Soyuz's communication system.

The three men will spend six months aboard the station conducting about 40 experiments as part of the 100 billion dollar project.